Opticians and dentists told to suspend routine appointments

Opticians and dentists are being told to suspend routine appointments as part of stricter measures to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

Guidance issued by health authorities and industry bodies to optical practices advises them to focus on essential or urgent care only during the outbreak, particularly for key workers.

Meanwhile, the British Dental Association (BDA) is advocating that dental professionals treat emergency cases only.

The Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee (OFNC), the fee negotiating body for the profession, said it understood that authorities in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland wanted essential and urgent NHS services to continue,

“Essential services to continue subject to suitable... measures. OPTOMETRIC FEES BODY

“subject to suitable risk management measures”.

It confirmed that NHS primary care premises are exempt from closure requirements hitting retail locations, and will help keep the pressure off GPs, A&E and hospital emergency eye departments.

Practices should still use remote consultations where possible, such as by phone, video or email, close for routine testing and only admit patients on appointment for essential and urgent care, the OFNC added.

It said essential eye care could cover a key worker or elderly person who needed a new prescription, who had broken their glasses, needed more contact lenses, or where a visually impaired person or child needed care.

Urgent care includes interventions on red eye, contact lens discomfort and foreign objects in the eye.